Who is Roy Castleton and why is his Autograph So RARE

[mr2686]

Jim, what's the deal with Clancy Smyres? Did he not do shows in the 80's or sign by mail. Strange that someone who died in 2007 and lived in or around Los Angeles and played for Brooklyn would not have done at least a couple of shows in the 80's. Was he unable to sign?

[JimStinson]

For reasons known only to Smyres he would not sign, anything. Collectors sent him expensive gifts via certified mail requiring only his signature and he refused them. In the 1990's I called him on the phone and he was very nice on the phone until the word "autograph" came up and he kept saying "Good bye, Good bye", (smile) I was doing private signings then and offered him $5,000 to sign 10 items and he hung up on me. He was perfectly able to sign but steadfastly refused. Since his death I have heard of collectors offering his son far more money than I did for anything signed by his father, and the son (so far) responds the same as his father used to

[travrosty]

What it takes is someone who wants one bad enough to give it an all out blitz and that might be enough to find one. but it takes quite a Herculean effort sometimes.

Try getting an Alfredo Evangelista (Muhammad Ali opponent) autograph, exasperating.